(loosely) A contradiction in terms. Historically, an oxymoron was a paradox with a point, where the contradiction seems absurd at first glance, and yet is deliberate, its purpose being to underscore a point or to draw attention to a concealed point.
By far the most massive planet in our solar system, Jupiter features giant hurricanes, auroras, abstract artistic cloudswirls, and maybe even a solid core. It also protects Earth by gravitationally clearing the solar system of asteroids and comets.
Jupiter, largest of the planets, reaches maximum brilliance January 5. On that date, it lies at a point astronomers call opposition. As viewed from Earth, Jupiter lies directly opposite the Sun. On the 5th, Jupiter rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible in the sky all night. Januaryâs opposition also is the point when the planet lies closest to Earth, so Jupiter shines brightest and appears largest. Furthermore, opposition places a planet at its highest point â due south â at local midnight. When Jupiter is at its highest point, we view it through the least amount of Earthâs atmosphere. The higher a celestial object, the less air weâre looking through and the better the view. This sequence of three images of Jupiter taken December 28, 2013, shows the planetâs rotation in 44 minutes.